More than three hundred people have gathered at a special service at Huddersfield Parish Church to remember the Batley and Spen MP, Jo Cox.
The service was for the three Kirklees MPs – Colne Valley’s, Jason McCartney, Dewsbury’s Paula Sherriff and Huddersfield’s Barry Sheerman to come together to remember Jo and each spoke candidly of their former colleague before giving readings from Psalm 142 and Jeremiah 9:10 and 31:15
The congregation, led by the vicar of Huddersfield, the Revd Canon Simon Moor, dedicated red, white and blue ribbons to Jo by tying them on a light sculpture to remember the light that Jo brought into the world.
Prayers were said by the Revd David Earl.
The Bishop of Huddersfield, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs based his reflection on John 1:5 when he told the congregation that light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
During the service, the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe and the Mayor of Kirklees, Coun Jim Dodds both spoke and gave readings from Matthew 5, the Beatitudes.
They were joined by other civic dignitaries from Huddersfield, Wakefield, North Yorkshire and Calderdale, the vice president of Huddersfield University, Bob Cryer and representatives from West Yorkshire Police. At the end of the service at Huddersfield, the sculpture was taken outside into the park next door to the church in Byram Street for local people to add their own ribbons to the memorial. Last night Calderdale Council, Calderdale Interfaith Council and Calderdale Council of Mosques issued a statement to say they were deeply saddened by the loss of Jo Cox, MP for Batley and Spen.
Hilary Barber, Vicar of Halifax Minster and Vice Chair of Calderdale Interfaith Council said:
“We are shocked and appalled by the brutal, inhumane and savage attack on Jo Cox that resulted in the loss of her life.
“We extend our prayers to her husband, two children, family, friends, her staff and colleagues during this difficult time.
“As faith representatives we are committed to upholding democracy and freedom of speech and condemn any form of extremism or violence. We work together to make sure that our communities can live together peacefully, with a shared respect and tolerance of each other and we are united in our abhorrence of this act.”
Coun Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Council said:
“We echo Hilary’s comments on behalf of the Calderdale Interfaith Council and join him in condemning all forms of extremism. We fully support the Interfaith Council’s commitment.
GATHERING FOR WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN JO'S BIRTHDAY ...From Buenos Aires to Batley
Thousands gathered at other events across the world – including Batley Market Place – to mark what would have been Jo Cox’s birthday.
The vicar of Birstall, the Revd Paul Knight and the assistant vicar of Batley, the Revd Mark Umpleby joined those in Batley Market Square. It will coincided with similar events in New York, Sydney, Melbourne, Beirut, Geneva, Glastonbury, Brussels, Manchester, Trafalgar Square (London), Nairobi, and Buenos Aires.